“How to prevent or reduce violence, including torture, by acting on its root causes often found in violations of economic, social and cultural rights, … goes to the very heart of human rights protection.”Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (2004-2008)

OMCT prepares a number of alternative reports focussing attention on the economic, social and cultural root causes of violence. The reports can be found in the general reports section

Advocacy: Inform and sensitise key institutions on the links between violence and failures to respect economic, social and cultural rights, as well as on the need and possibilities for an effective action on those root causes. Learn more…

Disrespect for economic, social and cultural rights can lead to torture and other forms of violence. Learn how…

About ESCR

OMCT works to eliminate torture and other forms of violence by helping NGOs, international human rights bodies and others to identify and act upon the poverty, inequality and discrimination that are often the root causes of violence.

This project has shown that addressing the economic, social and cultural root causes of violence through the appropriate channels can reduce human rights abuses and help create conditions conducive to economic growth, poverty reduction and reduce the temptations of extremism.

The European Union, through the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, has provided substantial support for OMCT’s work in this area which has also been generously supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (DDC), the Karl Popper Foundation, the Interchurch Organisation for Development Cooperation and the Foundation for Human Rights at Work.